They had to come back into town for a one day make up game. It seemed to be a beautiful day – and was, in the morning. I sat at my desk, which at that time was a sort of half cubicle out in the hallway across from my boss’ office, and was distracted by the thought of the Reds playing two and a half hours up the road. This wasn’t any ordinary game, however. Junior was sitting on 499 and Thome was at 399. Finally, I couldn’t take it anymore and asked my boss if I could leave to go to the game. (This was only six or seven months into my employment and was the first of many times I’d leave for a game.) He obliged, and I set off for Philly, the first time I’d ever go to the City of Brotherly Hate.

I went home and changed into my Reds gear, knowing full well the harassment I would have to suffer, and headed up I-95 under a brilliant Maryland sunshine, but when I hit Delaware, something was horribly wrong with the perfect day. Clouds. Dark clouds. They just grew darker as I approached the city, a sort of tense darkness that made me wonder if I should have stayed at work. By the time I got to the stadium, evidence of sunshine was non-existent; a cool gray enshrouded the new Philly ballpark.

I was early enough that I was able to get standing room only tickets – I hadn’t thought that a one day make up game could draw so many people, but when two potential Hall of Famers are playing for huge milestones in the same game, well, you know what they say about hindsight. Ticket in hand, I was greeted by a giant-sized Philly Phanatic looming above the gate I entered. I did the usual self tour of a ballpark, camera in hand, that happens when I go to a new place, and then chose a spot to stand to the first base side of home plate.

Turns out, Griffey didn’t make the trip. His body was too fragile for the rain. I had thought for sure it was destiny that had put the Reds so close to me; alas, it was just another of the countless heartbreaks associated with the man they call The Kid. But it was still cool to see Thome hit 400, especially since it was his home park. Problem was, he did it in the first four innings before the rains came, and came they did, as if the whole ocean had decided to dump itself upon the Junkfood Capital of the World. I stood for an hour and a half through that rain delay, which persisted only because they wouldn’t call it since Thome had hit the bomb. You can’t cancel a milestone. The game resumed for awhile until a second rain delay in the seventh inning became necessary. It was getting towards midnight, and I still needed to drive back to DC. I finally broke down and left a game early for the first time in my life, listening to the radio as far as I could until I lost the station. They were still playing when I went to bed that night – the game didn’t end until after 3am. I can just imagine how it was to be around Marty then – he still talks about it from time to time.

Reds at Dodgers.

It was just another beautiful Thursday in sunny Los Angeles. I’d been hanging poolside with Barker at his Malibu pad for a light lunch. He had sent the limo for Janice and Dian. We had four seats behind the plate at Dodger Stadium.

“Valenzuela vs Soto!” Bob was excited. “Slap me five, my man.” (I didn’t have the heart to tell him that you’re not supposed to say, “Slap me five.” You’re just supposed to hold you’re hand out and let the other guy see that you want five slapped. ...It was a few weeks before I would invent the high five with its much more predominant visual cues.) Anyway, we were getting pretty psyched for the game when Hope calls needing a fourth for his 4:00 tee time. Barker was hoping that Bob could get him into his next movie so he wanted the face time with Hope and he was all over it. (“Riiiight, I thought. The next Bob Hope movie. To begin filming in 1983. Riiight.”)

So anyway, the limo shows up and I have to break the bad news to the girls. “No problem”, says Janice, “You still have the four tickets? We’ll just pick up Holly on the way!”

Just as we got to the stadium it started absolutely pouring. Cats. And. Dogs. I don’t think they even opened the gates and took any tickets. I know we never got out of the limo.

HA! Ha ha ha ha. ha.